CPC gathering input on proposed projects

Date: 2/2/2009

By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



LONGMEADOW The Longmeadow Community Preservation Commission (CPC) recently hosted a public hearing on the four projects submitted for consideration for approval at the Annual Town Meeting taking place this spring.

This year's projects include the restoration of the interior of the Community House for $49,500, Japanese knotweed control at the Fannie Stebbins Memorial Wildlife Refuge for $7,500, digitization of Stephen Williams diaries for $15,900 and a Longmeadow housing needs assessment for $12,240.

Last year, a proposal for the painting and replacement of the balustrade at the Community House was approved, and this year's proposal would include the painting of the house's interior, window repairs and treatments and pillar restoration.

The goal of the Japanese knotwood control project is to remove the invasive species from approximately nine acres of land at the wildlife refuge. It is a part of a larger mission to control all invasive species and restore the biological integrity of the Longmeadow Flats.

The digitization of typewritten records which include marriage, birth and death records along with early town proceedings and the diaries of Stephen Williams, which were kept from 1716 to 1783, would make the documents more accessible to public. Currently, there is only one print copy of each of these records available at Storrs Library.

The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission submitted the application for a housing needs assessment, which will identify the specific unmet housing needs of town residents and target strategies and action steps to aid residents of all ages and income levels in finding affordable housing.

Complete project proposals are available at www.longmeadow.org by clicking on the CPC link.

At the public hearing on Jan. 21, applicants made presentation on their proposed projects.

"I thought the presentations were good," CPC chair Bill Hoff said. "They presented lots of information and made a good effort."

Hoff added that he believes all four projects meet the criteria for Community Preservation Act funding and that the CPC may be voting on which projects to take to Town Meeting as early as their meeting on Feb. 4.

That meeting will be taking place in the Fire House Community Room at 7 p.m.

The public is invited to submit comments on the proposed projects to the CPC by e-mail at longmeadowcpc@yahoo.com.